Barcelona are monitoring the growing divide between Estevao and Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, according to reports from Spain. The Brazilian winger is said to be unhappy playing second fiddle under the Spaniard, and his profile is understood to be of considerable interest to the Catalan giants.
The 19-year-old has managed just 23 minutes out of a possible 450 in Chelsea’s first five Premier League matches this campaign. His only appearances under Alonso have come in the EFL Cup, and it has been a brutal regression for a player once seen as a pillar of the club’s future.
Brazilian reports suggest that the discord extends beyond team selection and into positional and physical matters. Estevao is reportedly keen to move in from the right flank into a central role currently occupied by Cole Palmer. He also reportedly doesn’t want to add too much muscle mass, fearing it would detract from his explosiveness and dribbling.
Barcelona sporting director Deco is understood to be kept regularly abreast of the teenager’s situation in West London. The Blaugrana apparently scouted Estevao closely at Palmeiras, but a lack of funds and the presence of Lamine Yamal on the right put them off from making a bid.
However, other reports insist that the player and his representatives are not considering leaving Stamford Bridge at this time. The 19-year-old is contracted to Chelsea until June 2033, so the Blues have plenty of say over his long-term future.
Estevão’s Promising First Season Cut Short
Estevão was signed from Palmeiras in the summer of 2025, with high expectations around his precocious talent. The winger enjoyed an encouraging first season, scoring eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.
One of his best contributions was a strike against Barcelona in the Champions League, which further boosted his reputation in Catalonia. Yet a serious hamstring injury in April brought his season to a premature end, and his development was halted in its tracks. It was a blow which also denied the teenager a coveted spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad this summer.
Meanwhile, Alonso has always said publicly that Estevao will get more game time and that he is part of Chelsea’s long-term project. The Brazilian may get another opportunity when Chelsea play against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on October 10.